William Hoard Sculpture

Widely considered to be the father of the Wisconsin dairy industry, William Dempster Hoard also played a prominent role in the early development of the School of Agriculture at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. To honor his contribution, in 1922, four years after his death, the University proudly unveiled a handsome bronze statue of Gov. Hoard, during a ceremony on the grounds of the School of Agriculture.

The bust, which still today dominates the entrance into Ag. Hall, was done by Gutzon Borglum, the temperamental and talented sculptor who would go on to win worldwide fame for his incredible achievement at Mount Rushmore. For anyone who would like to see a Borglum original, the plaster mold for the Hoard bust is on permanent display in the lobby of the Hoard Museum.

This historic document aired on the radio as an Historic Minute on 01/03/2005.